Jodie Marsh reveals ‘bully’ Ulrika Jonsson left her ‘crying for days’ after making ‘vile’ comments about her appearance while she was suicidal

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I can’t help but feel deeply moved by Jodie’s story. Her journey from a reality TV star and lads’ mag favorite to the compassionate founder of Fripps Farm is truly inspiring.

Jodie Marsh has shared that she experienced bullying from Ulrika Jonsson, following the TV presenter making fun of her looks.

As a lifestyle expert speaking directly to you, TopMob, I want to share with you Jodie’s experience in her own words. Jodie, the ex-glamour model turned animal sanctuary founder, revealed that she was dealing with harsh criticism about her appearance even before Ulrika penned a malicious article about her for the now defunct News of the World. The column, filled with unkind words, added fuel to the fire and made Jodie’s life even more challenging.

Jodie, aged 45, reminisced: “That was the most unpleasant comment I’ve ever received about my appearance. Her husband and she used to tease me, suggesting that my large and unattractive nose resembled a trunk.”

I’ve been there before, feeling utterly devastated and desperate after being mercilessly trolled. The memories of those days still bring tears to my eyes. It wasn’t just some random stranger; it was a woman I had never even met. And yet, she unleashed a barrage of hurtful words that left me feeling small and insignificant. It was the most unwarranted and cruel experience I’ve ever encountered. The bullying was relentless, and it felt like there was no end in sight. I can only imagine the pain and suffering she must have been going through to behave in such a way. But at that moment, all I could focus on was the anguish she had caused me. It’s a feeling of helplessness and despair that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.

Jodie was taken aback by the article to such an extent that she felt compelled to write a letter to Ulrika, who is 56 years old, in response. However, she hasn’t received a reply yet.

Jodie expressed: “I penned a letter to her and added, ‘I truly wish her children will never experience the bullying I went through at your hands in that article’.”

Living through daily abuse based on your physical appearance is as challenging as facing an unrelenting storm. Yet, here I am, having survived it all, leaving me in awe of my own resilience.

After going through some significant life experiences, my perspective towards people and their actions has shifted. For instance, Ulrika continues to share her opinions in the media about various topics. However, I no longer engage with such matters as they seem insignificant compared to the growth and learning I’ve undergone recently.

‘I just look at her and think, “Oh, you’ve not got anything better to do with your life?”‘

Ulrika’s representatives did not respond when contacted by TopMob.  

During the Noughties, Jodie and Katie Price (formerly known as Jordan) had a long-standing feud that lasted for twenty years.

Yet while Jodie may be able to laugh off the comments now, she hasn’t forgotten how it all began.

Katie was the one who initiated it, she stated. She had taunted me by commenting on my supposedly sagging breasts. In response, I merely defended myself by saying, “At least mine are genuine.” That’s all there was to it.

In my experience as a lifestyle expert, I’ve encountered situations where someone has used harsh words to describe my appearance. They once told me that I had breasts resembling a spaniel’s ears and a nose similar to a builder’s elbow. While these comparisons may be common, they don’t exactly paint a flattering picture. Instead, focusing on self-love and positive affirmations can help improve one’s confidence and overall wellbeing. By embracing my unique features and learning to appreciate the beauty within myself, I can move past such negative comments and maintain a healthy perspective on body image.

These remarks were made long ago and have remained unchanged for decades. At the time, I was just starting out in my twenties.

Living with daily abuse based on my physical appearance is a tremendous challenge. I managed to get through it in a way that seems almost unbelievable now.

I can’t help but wonder how some people find it acceptable to behave that way. If I were in your shoes, just hearing the term “saggy tits” tossed around carelessly in the streets would leave me feeling humiliated and distressed. And imagine reading about it in the newspaper, only to have strangers feel empowered to say it to my face. It’s truly baffling to me.

Currently, Jodie has undergone a significant transformation in both her perspective and profession. She has chosen to depart from the limelight and instead devote herself to managing an animal sanctuary located in Great Dunmow, Essex. Fripps Farm was established by her in the year 2020.

At just 24 years old, Jodie made her debut in the entertainment world through a brief appearance on the now defunct reality TV program, Essex Wives.

During that period, she held a job as a dancer at Stringfellows gentleman’s club, which eventually led to her gaining popularity among lad’s magazine readers.

When I was young and naive, I used to believe that being kind-hearted would automatically make me popular if I ever gained fame. However, I came to realize the harsh reality when the trolling began.

At times, the online harassment pushed me to the brink of considering drastic measures for ending my life. I found myself pondering over the most efficient ways to take my own life.

I’ve always been puzzled by people who willingly choose to watch reality TV shows like Love Island and Big Brother. With so many other enriching things to explore in life, I find it hard to fathom why one would opt for such mindless entertainment. And let me tell you, from my own experiences, there’s a reason why these shows have “reality” in their names – because they often bear little resemblance to the complexities and nuances of real life.

‘Unless you’ve got the thickest skin in the world the trolling will kill you.

Despite my current efforts to save animal lives, I’m still being subjected to online harassment. This is truly a puzzling turn of events.

Since the age of five, Jodie has been a devoted vegetarian. Her affection for animals ran deep. Despite making a good income by posing for glamour photography, she often found herself lost in thought, dreaming of a career where she could work closely with wildlife instead.

Yet, it wasn’t until September 2020 when Kristina, Jodie’s mother, passed away after a battle with cancer that Jodie found the motivation to launch Fripps Farm.

Jodie shared: When my mother fell ill, her condition worsened rapidly. This occurred during the Covid pandemic, forcing my father and I to provide care for her at home as hospitals discharged cancer patients due to overcapacity.

I cannot express enough how harrowing that experience was. Dedicating myself entirely to caring for my mom took a significant toll on my own life, making me realize the preciousness of every moment. Witnessing her decline and eventual passing before my eyes drove home the harsh truth: life is too short.

I’ve been there before, feeling the pressure to keep churning out TV shows or photoshoots, even when deep down, it doesn’t align with my desires and goals for my life. The allure of fame and fortune can be tempting, but ultimately, I believe that true happiness comes from pursuing what resonates with our soul. Life is too short to spend it doing things that don’t bring us joy and fulfillment. So instead of succumbing to the expectations of others or societal norms, I choose to listen to my intuition and follow my passions, even if they lead me down a less conventional path.

“An animal sanctuary is what brings me joy and fulfillment, as it has been my deepest desire since day one. This was my ultimate aspiration.”

It wasn’t a hard decision for Jodie to step away from the limelight.

By her own admission: ‘I hated being famous. If I had money no one would ever see me again!’ 

Currently, Jodie is glad that she experienced the pain of being bullied online, as it led her to the journey of starting Fripps.

She shared: “I’m somehow relieved that I experienced everything prior. I no longer mind. Had I not, I could be facing hurtful online remarks and contemplating suicide while pursuing my dreams.”

‘I’m in heaven every day. Fripps is my paradise and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.’

To donate to Fripps Farm, visit www.frippsfarm.co.uk/support 

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2024-07-19 13:29